Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections for Knee Osteoarthritis

Nagging knee pain due to osteoarthritis getting in the way of enjoying life? If traditional treatments haven’t eased your knee pain, you may wonder what else science has up its sleeve. There’s a lot of buzz about platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy lately. It’s a natural, regenerative option gaining serious traction in pain management and sports medicine.[1]

PRP therapy involves taking a small sample of your blood, spinning it down to concentrate the platelets, and injecting the potent serum into your knee joint. Your platelets are packed with growth factors that encourage healing, function, and tissue growth while reducing painful inflammation.[2] Knee osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage in your knee wears down over time, leading to pain, stiffness, and swelling. However, PRP helps your body fight back using its own biology.[1]

Can PRP Help My Knee?

In many cases, yes! PRP has become an increasingly popular go-to solution for athletes seeking a way to speed up injury recovery and avoid surgery.[3] With its success in the elite world of sports, regenerative medicine is now being offered to patients with knee pain caused by osteoarthritis. Several studies have demonstrated that platelet-rich plasma can effectively reduce knee pain and improve function, often more so than conventional treatments such as corticosteroid or hyaluronic acid (HA) injections.[4,5]

The ‘how’ behind PRP therapy is still unknown, but bioprotein hormones called growth factors can help heal your knee by stimulating the growth of new cells in soft tissues, such as cartilage cells.[6]

What Are the Benefits of PRP for Knees?

Platelet-rich plasma offers patients a non-surgical option that is minimally invasive and uses your body’s own healing superpowers. Patients often experience reduced pain, improved mobility, and a delay in the progression of joint damage.[7]

Here are several other benefits that PRP therapy offers:

• Uses your own blood’s natural healing properties [7]
• Can be combined with other treatments, such as hyaluronic acid, steroids, or stem cells. [7]
• Promotes natural healing [1]
• Reduces long-term pain [1]
• Improves joint function [1]
• Outpatient procedure with no downtime
• Drug-free treatment
• Ease of extraction and preparation [8]
• Minimal risks or side effects [8]
• Can be used for other musculoskeletal injuries or conditions [9]
• Delays the progression of arthritis [7]

Are PRP Therapeutic Injections Safe?

Yes, PRP therapy is generally safe, but it’s not entirely risk-free. Since it’s an injection, there’s always a tiny chance of infection, swelling, or discomfort at the injection site.[6] That said, serious complications are rare, and because PRP is derived from your own blood, it’s considered very low-risk overall.[10] Most experts agree that the potential benefits outweigh the mild, temporary side effects.[1].

What Can I Expect During My PRP Knee Injection?

The whole process usually takes less than an hour. First, a small sample of your blood is drawn and then placed in a centrifuge to separate and concentrate the platelets.[11] Next, your knee will be numbed, and then, using ultrasound for accuracy, the doctor will inject the PRP into your knee joint.[11] You may feel sore for a few days, but most patients quickly return to their normal activities.[11] Multiple injections may be necessary to achieve optimal results.

How Do I Know If I Am a Candidate for Knee PRP Therapy?

If you’ve been properly diagnosed with mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis and haven’t found relief with traditional treatments, PRP therapy might be the next step toward pain-free movement. It’s invaluable if you’re looking to delay or avoid surgery and don’t have severe joint deformities. Your pain management specialist can review your medical history and imaging results to determine if PRP is a suitable option for your care plan.

Platelet-rich plasma therapy doesn’t have to be a stand-alone treatment either. It can be part of a broader, personalized approach that includes physical therapy, medications, nerve blocks, or other injections. Your knees may also benefit from complementary therapies such as yoga, massage, or acupuncture. And don’t underestimate the power of healthy habits—eating well, maintaining a healthy weight, staying active, and avoiding tobacco can all support your PRP results and help reduce knee pain.

Bottom line? PRP therapy could be the natural, effective relief you’ve been waiting for. Talk to your pain management provider to see if you’re a candidate, and take one step closer to living with less pain and more freedom of movement.

Resources:

1. Moretti L, Maccagnano G, Coviello M, et al. Platelet Rich Plasma Injections for Knee Osteoarthritis Treatment: A Prospective Clinical Study. J Clin Med [Internet]. 2022;11(9):2640. Published 2022 May 8. doi:10.3390/jcm11092640. Accessed March 31, 2025. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9099616/
2. Shahid A, Malik A, Bukhari A, Shaikh A, Rutherford J, Barkatali B. Do Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections for Knee Osteoarthritis Work?. Cureus [Internet]. 2023;15(2):e34533. Published 2023 Feb 2. doi:10.7759/cureus.34533. Accessed March 31, 2025. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9897683/
3. Platelet-Rich Plasma for Osteoarthritis. Sports Medicine News – AOSSM [Internet]. Published 2022. Accessed March 31, 2025. Available from: https://www.sportsmed.org/membership/sports-medicine-update/spring-2024/platelet-rich-plasma-for-osteoarthritis-in-2024
4. Bennell KL, Paterson KL, Metcalf BR, et al. Effect of Intra-articular Platelet-Rich Plasma vs Placebo Injection on Pain and Medial Tibial Cartilage Volume in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis: The RESTORE Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA [Internet]. 2021;326(20):2021–2030. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.19415 Accessed March 31, 2025. Available from: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2786501
5. Duggal N. Is Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) a Safe and Effective Treatment for Osteoarthritis of the Knee?. Healthline [Internet]. Updated April 11, 2024. Accessed March 31, 2025. Available from: https://www.healthline.com/health/osteoarthritis/platelet-rich-plasma-knee
6. Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy. Johns Hopkins Medicine [Internet]. Accessed March 31, 2025. Available from: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/plateletrich-plasma-prp-treatment
7. Wilson J. Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy for Arthritis. Arthritis-Health [Internet]. Updated January 07, 2014. Accessed March 31, 2025. Available from: https://www.arthritis-health.com/treatment/injections/platelet-rich-plasma-prp-therapy-arthritis
8. Xiong Y, Gong C, Peng X, et al. Efficacy and safety of platelet-rich plasma injections for the treatment of osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Front Med [Internet] 26 June 2023;10. doi:https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2023.1204144. Accessed March 31, 2025. Available from: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2023.1204144/full
9. Rai D, Singh J, Somashekharappa T, Singh A. Platelet-rich plasma as an effective biological therapy in early-stage knee osteoarthritis: One year follow up. SICOT-J [Internet]. 2021;7:6. doi:https://doi.org/10.1051/sicotj/2021003. Accessed March 31, 2025. Available from: https://www.sicotj.org/articles/sicotj/full_html/2021/01/sicotj200110/sicotj200110.html
10. Can platelet-rich plasma injections heal your joints? Harvard Health [Internet]. Published March 1, 2022. Accessed March 31, 2025. Available from: https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/can-platelet-rich-plasma-injections-heal-your-joints
11. WebMD Editorial Contributors. What to Know About Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Treatment. WebMD [Internet]. Reviewed June 30, 2023. Accessed March 31, 2025. Available from: https://www.webmd.com/osteoarthritis/what-to-know-about-platelet-rich-plasma-prp-treatment